Flushing system



Dec. 11, 1934. w. s. WHITE I FLUSHING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 4, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l l, INVENTOR. @Aj/Mz; @Wfl/iam ATTORNEYS E W H w S. w.

FLUSHING SYSTEM Filed F'eb. 4, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS "QMK Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE Application. February 4,

16 Claims.

This invention relatesto a system for ushing toilets, urinals, slop sinks and other like fixtures, its primary object being to provide a highly emcient, though simple association of cooperao tive parts by which a fixture may be flushed with a comparatively small amount of water through the medium of an automatically stored supply of air-pressure.

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of means to prevent water logging of the flushing system, to insure a substantially noiseless iiush at the fixture, and to avoid the Waste of water through leaks.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in homes and other places where directpressure flush valves are not practical on account of `an insuriicient volume Vof liquid necessary to create siphonic action and where under ordinary conditions, a small pipe, while of ample size for domestic use, would not carry a sufficient volume of water to flush a closet bowl.

With the above and others in view, my invention consists, briefly, in drawing air into the system during each ilushing-action, and to entrap a portion of said air, in a compressed condition and so as to be available for use in eX- pediting and accelerating the flow of water during the next following operation. The mere use of compressed air in flushing toilets is old in the art, but the method of providing a body of air under pressure automatically and without the necessity of replenishment by discontinuing the supply oi water to the system, is novel in the art as it is at present known to me.

It is obvious that the arrangement of the elements essential in attaining the objects of my invention, must be variable in order to adapt the system for use under different conditions, particularly with reference to the location of the toilet, the source of Water-supply :and the construction of the building in which the system is installed, and in order to convey an understanding of possible modications required under such varying conditions, several examples 55- are associated -with abathextureV-andinflighave been illustrated in the accompanying draw-I water, while a body oi air entrapped in the up- 1933, SerialNo. 655,162

uresi, 5 and 6, the toilet-fixture has been omitted as being in the same relative position to the other elements of the system as in Figures l, 2, and 3. Figure 7 is av sectional fragmentary View showing a-modication by Which two chambers inciuded'in the invention communicate separately with the flush-valve.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring rvfirst to kFigure 1 of the drawings, the toilet shown at 5, is, as usual, equipped with the-conventional iiush valve 6, commonly known asI the iiushometer.

The source of water supply is shown in the form of a supply pipe terminating in a jet 8. 1D The jetfextends into'a pipe 9 of the system beyond an air-intake opening 10 in thev pipe, controlled by a vcheck-valve k12.

A tank 13, in this instance located below the licor 14 upon which' the tcilet is installed, is divid- 20 edv into two` compartments A and B by a partition l5. The two compartments constitute two separate land distinct chambers which may be formed in one `and the same tank asin the presn ent illustration, or which may be separated from each other to loe-located at different points of the'installation, as in modifications hereinafter tobe described.

The chamber A is in the operation constantly filled with Waterand thus provides a reservoir for the supply of'a body of water `immediately available to flush the toilet when the flush valve thereof is opened, while the chamber B functions to receive a surplus of water admitted to the reservoir when the flush-valve is closed, and by the advance of said surplus, producea body of air under pressure, which provides aiorce to eject the contents of the reservoir when the liush-valve is reopened.

The pipe 9 connects with an opening in the reservoir water-chamber A and a pipe 16, in which the flush valve-is connected, connects with an opening of the same .chamber preferably opposite to the other. yAn opening 17 in the partition connects the tvvochambers.

In the operation of the system illustrated in Figure l, pipes Sand 16, the chamber A and part of-thezchamberB 'are normally filled with per portion of the chamber is held in a state of compression by the water pressure. When the ush valve is opened, the air expanding in the upper porticnoi the chamber B, forcibly drives the water through the opening 17 of the partition 5 and with the water contained in the chamber A and the pipe 16, into and through the toilet.

The iiushing action is, of course, aided by the water ejected through the jet 8 of the watersupply pipe, into the pipe 9, and owing to the partial vacuum created in the pipe, new air is drawn into the pipe through the valve-controlled intake-opening 10. This air after entering the chamber A, works up through the opening of the partition into the chamber B after the hushing operation and replaces the water which was expelled from the chamber, and when subsequently the flush valve is closed, this air entrapped in the upper portion of the chamber will be compressed by the pressure of the water which will be supplied from the source until the system is restored to its original condition. It will thus be seen that a body of compressed air is constantly formed and maintained in the chamber B in a completely automatic action, and that, owing to the presence of said air body, the toilet is hushed with a minimum amount of water, and with the minimum of noise.

An advantageous result obtained in the operatien is that when the toilet is being ilushed and the pressure in the chamber A is consequently relieved, pressure may be constantly maintained in the chamber B.

By reducing the p-ressure in chamber A when the iiush valve is opened, air is taken into the chamber regardless of the pressure in the chamber B and said air will be transferred to the lastmentioned chamber when the flush-valve closes, even though pressure is maintained in said chamber. 1t follows that even though the compression chamber B provides a repellent force7 air is forced into the chamber when the pressure in the chamber A exceeds said force, and will be taken into the water-chamber or reservoir A regardless of said force in chamber B while the operation is taking place.

In Figure 2 of the drawings, the jet 8 of the water-supply extends into the 'outlet pipe 16 of chamber A instead of extending into the inlet pipe of the same as in the arrangement shown in Figure 1. The outlet pipe is of larger diameter than the inlet pipe 7 and the valve-controlled air-intake is in the chamber A, as at 18, instead of in the inlet pipe as before. The chambers are again provided by two compartments of a divided tank 13, which, in this instance, is located above the toilet instead of below the same, as in Figure l.. The compartments communicate through an opening 17 in the partition l5, but in addition to said opening, a pipe 19 is provided which, at its upper and lower ends, opens into the compartment B and the compartment A, respectively, and which adjacent its upper end has another op-ening 20 communicating with the compartment B.

Again, under normal conditions, the chamber A and part of the chamber B are iilled with water, and air is compressed in the upper portion of the chamber by the water-pressure. When the hush valve is opened, the compressed air forces the water in the chamber B out through the pipe 19 by way of its open Lipper end and the auxiliary opening 20 and through the pipe 16 to the toilet.

This swiftly moving body of water assisted by the water issuing from the jet 8 draws the water from the chamber A and creates a partial Vacuum, causing atmospheric air to be drawn in through the valve-controlled intake 18. When the water has been forced out of the chamber B to a level that it no longer covers the upper end of the pipe 19, the excess air in the chamber will enter the pipe and mingle with water iiowing through the opening 20, thus adding impetus to the body flowing through the pipe 16 and exerting a greater pull on the water discharging from the chamber A, to draw air into the same.

During this operation, the excess air expelled from the chamber B leaves a space to be lled by air drawn into the chamber A through `the intake, which is not needed in the flushing action and after the flush-valve is again closed, the air will enter the chamber B through the opening 17 and will accumulate in the upper portion of the chamber, to be compressed by the water pressure after the chamber A and part of the chamber B are relled with water.

It will be apparent that the flushing action may be regulated not only by means of the ilushing valve, b-ut also by Varying the size of the chamber B and the height of the pipe i9 wit-hin the same.

The opening through which the air taken into chamber A passes into chamber B is not necessarily located in the partition. It may, ii so desired, be formed in the pipe 19 or conducted from one chamber to the other by means of a by-pass or other convenient and suitable means. Since variations of this character are obvious, they have not been shown in the drawings.

Here also a repellant force in chamber' B will not prevent air from entering the reservoir A and the subsequent recharging of chamber B without the need of discharging the contents of the same, beyond what is required to flush the iixture and preventing waste.

In Figure 3 is shown a practical method of cmploying a bathtub or basin for the supply of water and the intake of air. The chambers A and B are in this installation, provided by two separate tanks 21 and 22, which, as in Figure l, are located below the toilet. However, the chambers are not one above the other as in the installations of Figures 1 and 2, but they are placed next to each other at substantially the same level.

The water jet 8 is, in this construction, conn nected with the cold water supply pipe of the bath or basin, as at 23, and a pipe 24 has an open end into which the jet extends. Adjacent said open end of the pipe 25.-, is a branch pipe 25 in which the check-valve l2 is connected and which connects the pipe 24 with the waste pipe 28 of the bath.

An opening in the bottom or" chamber B connects with a U-shaped pipe 27, the open end oi which is in the upper portion of the chamber A, and a pipe 28 having an open end in the bottom portion of the chamber A, connects with the flush valve 6 of the toilet.

When the iush valve is opened, the compressed air in the upper portion of chamber B forces the water from said chamber through the pipe 27 into the upper portion of the chamber A and thence the water together with that of the chamber B passes through the pipe 28 and past the open iiush valve 6 to the toilet. In the meantime, the iniiux of water from the jet 8 draws air through the branch pipe` 25 in to the pipe 24 and into the chamber A, from where it escapes with the water through the pipe 2'7, into the chamber B, where it accumulates to be subsequently compressed by the water pressure when the flush valve is closed. The pipe 28 may have an aperture 29 to allow the gradual escape of excess air, and here again the CII Lio

intake of airl is not prevented by the pressure in chamber B.

It is to be understood that the connection 27 between the chambers should be restricted and much smaller than the pipe 28 to relieve back pressure.

In Figure l, the pipe 16, in which theiiush valve is connected, is in direct communication with the pressure chamber B by means of the upright 19 which, in common with the same pipe of the construction shov/n in Figure .2, is .open at its upper end and has auxiliary openings 20 and 20a. The jet 7 of the water-supplyextends into the pipe 9 leading to the water chamber A, as in Figure 1, and the air is drawn into the system through vthe valve-controlled intake 10 in .the pipe 9. .The chambers are, as beioregformed in a tank 13 by means of the partition 15 having an `opening 17 and the tank is on about the same level as the toilet.

In operation, the air pressure in the chamber B, forces the water from the chamber through the toilet when the flush-valve is opened.

The air is drawn into chamber A by the influx ci the water discharged by the jet 7 and the air entering the chamber B through the opening 17 in the partition is, as before, compressed in the chamber B by the water pressure when the flush valve is closed.

After the water level in chamber B falls below the end of the pipe 19, the excess air is discharged through said end, while the water passes through the auxiliary opening 20.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 5, the chambers A and B are provided, as in Figure 3, by the separate tanks 21 and 22, one of which may be located above the floor of the toilet while the other is placed below the same.

The pipe 16 of the flush valve connects with the lower portion of the pressure chamber B .and is controlled by a check-valve 30, a .branch 31 of the pipe 16, above the check valve connects with the bottom of the chamber A and into this branch extends the jet 8 of the water-supply. The upper portion of chamber A connects with the botto-m portion of chamber B by a pipe 32 and the valvecontrolled air-intake is located, as in Figure 2, in the lower portion of chamber A. When the flush valve opens, the body of compressed air in chamber B forces the water in chamber B past the check-valve 30 into the toilet, while at the same time the jet 8 forces the water in A to pass to the toilet through the branch pipe 3l. The checkvalve prevents the return of water to the chamber B, and the excess of pressure causes the water in chamber A to be driven through the pipe 32 into the chamber B. v

The influx of water by means of the jet connected with the source of water supply, .draws air into the chamber A through the valve-controlled intake 18, and this air moving upwardly in the chamber, passes through the pipe 32 into the chamber B after the valve is closed, where, after the flush valve is closed, it is compressed by the water-pressure as before.

In Figure' 6, the two chambers, A and B, are located in substantially the same position as in Figure 5.

Ihe ilush-valve pipe 16 connects with an opening in the lower portionrof the water-chamber A, and the jet 8 of the water-supply projects into this opening, as in Figure 2.

The valve-controlled air-intake is in the chamber A, as in Figure 5. A pipe 33 connects the lower portion of the pressure chamber B with the upper portion .ofthe chamber. A, similar to the arrangement shown in Figure 5.

.Again the operation is on the same principle upon which the entire invention is based.

When. the ush valve opens the water shooting into the'pipel from the jet of the watersupply passes to the toilet, together with the water driven from the two chambers by expansion of the body of Icompressed vair in the chamber B, it being understood that the Water of .chamber B is driven upwardly into the chamber A through the pipe 33. Air. is ydrawn into the chamber A through the intake .and after'the iiush-valve is again closed, thisair escapes through the pipe into the chamber B, where it is compressed by the water pressure, readyifor use in the next following operation.

`Inthe modiiication shown in Figure '7, both the chamber A'and the chamber B are connected witlrthe flush-Valve. For this purpose, two pipes, Stand 35, of smaller diameter are provided, one connecting with the chamber A and one with the chamber B, while both are connected with the Hush-valve as byrneans of a T-l'itting 36. In this manner; water may be expelled directly from the chamber B, as well as from the chamber A, and by `placing a valve 37 in the pipe leading from the pressure chamber B, the supply of water to the fixture and the pressure in the chamber B may be regulated. In fact, it is possible to automatically regulate the supply and the pressure by the use of a pressure-sensitive valve in the place ci a hand-adjusted valve.

Many other variations in the construction and arrangements of the elements comprised in the invention, may be made within the scope and spirit of thesame, as vdeined in the hereunto appended claims, those hereinbefore described having been found to be most practical and efficient under varying conditions.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A system for ilushing a toilet or the like, provided with a flush-valve, comprising in combination with a source of water-supply, a reservoir and an air-compression chamber communicating for the passage of water `from one to the other, a pipe connecting the reservoir with the hush-valve, a pipe connected with the same reservoir and having a valve-controlled airintake, and a jet connected with the source and extending into the last-mentioned pipe.

2. A system .for flushing a. toilet or the like, provided with a hush-valve, comprising in combination with a source of water-supply, a reservoir and an air-compression chamber communicating by means of a perforated partition, for the passage o-f waterfrom one to the other, a pipe connecting the reservoir with the flush-valve, a pipe connected with thesame reservoir and having a valve-controlled air-intake, and a jet connected with the source and extending into the last-mentioned pipe.

3. A system for flushing a toilet or the like, provided with a flush-valve, comprising in corn-1 bination with a source of water-supply, a reservoir and an air-compression chamber communicating for the passage of water from one to the other, a pipe connecting the reservoir with the flush valve, an air-intake communicating with the same reservoir, and a jet connected with the source, and positioned relative to the air-intake, to draw air by suction into the reservoir.

4. A system for flushing a toilet or the like provided with a flushvalve,.comprising in combination with a source of water-supply, a reservoir and an air-compression chamber communicating by means of a perforated partition, for the passage of Water from one to the other, a pipe connecting the chambers and having openings at different elevations in the air-compression chamber, a pipe connecting the reservoir With the flush-valve, an air-intake communicating with the same reservoir, and a jet connected with the source, and positioned relative to the air-intake, to draw air suction into the reservoir.

5. A system for flushing a toilet or the like, provided with a flush-valve, comprising in combination with a source of Water supply, a reservoir and an air-compression chamber communi eating for the passage oi air and Water from one to another, an air-intake communicating with the reservoir, a jet connected With the source of Watersupply and positioned relative to the airintake to dravv air into the reservoir by suction, and a pipe connecting the air-compression chamber with the flush-valve.

6. A system for flushing a toilet or the like, provided with a hush-valve, comprising in combination with a source of Water-supply, a reservoir and an air-compression chamber communicating for the passage of air and Water from one to another, an air-intake communicating with the reservoir, a jet connected with the source `of water-supply and positioned relative to the air-intake to draw air into the reservoir by suction, and a pipe connected With the hush-valve and having openings at different elevations in the air-compression chamber.

7. A system for flushing a toilet or the like, provided with a hush-valve, comprising' in combination with a source of Water-supply, a reservoir and an air-compression chamber communicating for the passage of air and Water from one to another, an air-intake communicating with the reservoir, and a pipe connecting the reservoir with the hush-valve, and a jet connected With the source of Water-supply and disposed adjacent the connection of the last-mentioned pipe with the reservoir whereby to draw air into the reservoir by suction.

8. A system for ilushing a toilet or'the like, controlled by a iush valve, comprising in combination with a source oi Water-supply, a reservoir and a compression chamber connected for the passage of air and Water from the reservoir to the compression chamber, a connection for the passage Water from the reservoir and the compression chamber to the toilet when the flush-valve is opened, an air-intake communi'- catng with the reservoir, a jet connected with the source of Water-supply and positioned relative to the air-intake to draw air into the reservoir by suction when the hush-valve is opened, the connections of the reservoir and the compression chamber With each other and with the toilet being such as to maintain air-pressure in the compression chamber during the flushingaction and to transfer air from the reservoir to the compression chamber, when the ush valve is closed.

9. A system for flushing a toilet or the like, controlled by a flush valve, comprising in combination with a source of Water-supply, a reservoir and a compression chamber both connected with the iiush valve, and communicating -with each other for the passage of air and Water from the reservoir to the compression chamber, an air-inn take connected with the reservoir, and a jet connected with the reservoir, and positioned relative to the `air-intake to draw air into the reservoir by suction.

l0. A system for lushing a toilet or the like, controlled by a ush valve, comprising in combination with a source of water-supply, a reservoir and a compression chamber both connected with the flush valve, and communicating with each other for the passage of air and Water from the reservoir to the compression chamber, a valve controlling said connections, an air-intake connected with the reservoir, and a jet connected With the reservoir and positioned relative to the air-intake to draw air into the reservoir by suction. i

l1. A system for flushing a toilet or the like, controlled by a flush valve, comprising in combination with a source of Water supply, a reser- 'voir and a compression chamber, both connected with the hush-valve, and communicating with each other for the passage of air and Water from one to the other, an air-intake connected with the reservoir, and a jet connected with the reservoir, and positioned relative to the air-intake to draw air into the reservoir by suction.

l2. A system for flushing a toilet or the like, comprising in combination with a source of Water supply, a system of interconnected conductive elements, connected at one end with the source to receive Water therefrom and having at its opposite end an outlet for the discharge of the Water, and a valve controlling the outlet, the said elements including a water reservoir and a compression chamber having a water space in connection with the reservoir, and having a normally closed space for the compression of air by the iniiux of Water from the reservoir when the ush valve is closed, said body of air acting upon the bodies of water in both the compression chamber and the reservoir for their forcible movement to the outlet when the flush valve is opened and a normally closed air intake opened by the oW of water through the system, to augment the body of. compressed air in the compression chamber and to replenish said body after the flush valve is reclosed.

13, A system for flushing a toilet or the like, provided with a flush valve, comprising in combinati-on with a source of water supply, two chambers communicating for a restricted passage of Water from one to another, a conductive connection for the passage of Water from the chambers to the toilet, controlled by the iiush valve, a connection between the source of Water supply and one of the chambers, and a valve controlled intake for drawing air into the system by the flow of Water from the source to the chamber With which it is connected, the other chamber having a space for the compression of Water entering the chamber when the flush valve is closed.

la. A system for iiushing a toilet or the like, having a ush valve, comprising in combination with a source of Water supply, a body of Water held under pressure by Water in the system when the valve vis closed, a second body of Water having a restricted communication With the first mentioned body and connected with the source of Water supply, and a valve controlled air intake for drawing air into the second body by the flow o Water from the source, the system being connected with the toilet for the supply of Water thereto when the ush valve is opened.

l5. A system for flushing a toilet or the like controlled by a iiush valve, comprising in combination with a source of Water supply, a reservoir and a compression chamber both connected with the flush valve and communicating for the passage of air and Water from the reservoir to the compression chamber, and a. valve controlling the connection between the compression chamber and the flush valve.

16. A system for flushing a toilet or the like controlled by a flush Valve, comprising in combination with a, source of Water supply, a reservoir and e compression chamber both connected with the flush valve and communicating for the passage of air and Water from the reservoir to the compression tank, and a pressure sensitive Valve controlling the connection between the Compression chamber and. the flush valve.

WILLIAM S. WHITE. 

